GoKawiilOlympus esolang requires flattering Greek gods instead of giving commands
A 2024 project called Olympus introduces an esoteric programming language in which developers write code as prayers to seven Greek gods rather than issuing direct commands. Each deity has a distinct personality and requires a sufficient quantity of accurate epithets and polite supplication before it will execute a request, with Zeus described as having high 'ego' demanding excessive flattery. The grammar is built with a PEG parser (Peggy.JS) so that prayers read as natural, structured language while still functioning as precise syntax.
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The project extends a lineage of esoteric languages, starting with INTERCAL's PLEASE command, that use humor and ritual to comment on the asymmetric relationship between programmers and machines. By framing code as supplication rather than instruction, Olympus suggests a playful philosophical point about control and obedience in computing, though this appears intended as satire and design exploration rather than a practical tool.
- Olympus is an esolang where code is written as prayers to seven distinct Greek gods.
- Each god requires appropriate epithets and sufficient flattery before executing commands, echoing INTERCAL's PLEASE mechanic.
- The language's grammar is implemented with a PEG parser (Peggy.JS) to make prayer syntax both natural-sounding and precise.
Source: danieltemkin.com, 2026-10-14
Published there as: “Olympus: Correcting the power dynamic of code (2024)”
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